‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: John K
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Location: Koreatown/Wilshire Center

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I ride Metro at least twice a day to get to work and since I don’t own a car I use it to augment my bicycle journeys all over the county.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Typically, it’s to go to work.  I live in Koreatown and work at Universal City.

However, I also use Metro to go grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s in Hollywood and to get to events downtown and to the beach on the Westside.

What lines/routes do you take?

The Red Line to Hollywood and the Valley, the Purple Line downtown, the 720 Rapid west along Wilshire and the 754 down Vermont on my way to the Green Line/airport.

How long does it typically take?

My workday commute, door to door, is 25-35 minutes, especially when I ride my bike to the station.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I love it!

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

Less than $50

Why do you take transit?

I use transit to save money and stress from day to day.

Other Transportation:

Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?

I ride my bicycle everyday, both for long-distance commuting and as a shuttle between my apartment and the Red Line.

Are you car-free? If so, why? If not, why not?

I decided to go car-free in March.  I couldn’t afford the hidden costs of auto-ownership (time, stress, parking, gas) and love riding my bike, so I thought I could manage it.  It’s been so easy to be car-free!

Your Perspective:

If you could make one change to improve your transit experience, what would it be?

Signal prioritization for buses and light rail, plus FREE bus to rail transfers.

Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?

I’m a big rail advocate.  Buses just don’t compare with the capacity and quality provided by grade-separated rail. Light rail is awesome, but it needs to be fully grade separated so it can go FAST.  If a train is stuck at a light like a bus/car, what’s the point?

Do you think L.A. transit is better or worse since you started riding? What’s changed?

I haven’t taken L.A. transit long enough to have an opinion, but I think the Rapid buses are a great innovation that the last city I lived in did not have.

How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?

Building more rail/subway lines.